Tag Archives: City of Austin Environmental Commission
Springdale Farm development proposal lacks support due to environmental concerns
For over a year, Austin developer StoryBuilt has worked with the Govalle neighborhood to design a site plan for the 4.8-acre site that operates as Springdale Farm and Eden East at 755 Springdale Road. While the overall design for a…
Development • By Jessi Devenyns • Jun 10, 2020
City reworks its Community Climate Plan through an equity lens
Five years ago, Austin’s Office of Sustainability began implementing its 2030 Community Climate Plan in order to work toward the city’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Now, the department is revising its plan to update metrics and…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Jun 9, 2020
Environmental Commission says Public Works project 'flies in the face' of environmental regulations
In order to create easy access and support increased traffic headed to a new Habitat for Humanity development in Southeast Austin, the Public Works Department is working on constructing a road that crosses a “classified waterway.” Under city code, a…
The Code • By Jessi Devenyns • Jun 2, 2020
Compromise reached at Lantana PCA, Environmental Commission recommends project
After postponing its recommendation on the project consent agreement at the Lantana project in Southwest Austin, the Environmental Commission has reached an agreement with the developer and the Save Our Springs Alliance on how to move forward. On Tuesday, the…
Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 27, 2020
City of Austin releases update on climate resilience plan
Resilience is a word that seems particularly relevant as Austin closes public spaces and dining institutions and limits gatherings in response to the spread of Covid-19. Although the city has yet to develop a holistic resilience plan that prepares the…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 13, 2020
Watershed Protection Department debuts new pollution spills map
When the Watershed Protection Department went to renew the city’s permit to discharge under the Texas pollutant discharge elimination system this past year, it found new requirements. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently changed its rules to require cities…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 10, 2020
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Environmental Commission recommends city develop holistic resilience plan
In many respects, Austin city officials are striving to create an environmentally sustainable city. However, according to the Environmental Commission, the city is not as resilient as it needs to be. “Right now, we don’t have a resilience plan,” Commissioner…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 9, 2020
Environmental Commission postpones Lantana PCA to encourage compromise
On Feb. 19, the Environmental Commission heard from divided parties arguing their case for whether to recommend implementing a Project Consent Agreement at the Lantana project in Southwest Austin to allow for a mixed-use residential project rather than office space…
Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Feb 26, 2020
Environmental Commission recommends revising green building standards
Green buildings are intended to be superior constructions built with environmentally sustainable materials and design. While not required, the city encourages this type of construction on a voluntary basis through Austin Energy’s Green Building Program, which rewards builders for green…
Development • By Jessi Devenyns • Feb 25, 2020
Environmental Commission recommends a variance for 19 feet of fill
A developer building a commercial storage facility project requiring a variance for 19.5 feet of fill to construct a driveway on slopes steeper than a 15 percent grade received a unanimous recommendation from the Environmental Commission at its Feb. 5…
Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Feb 18, 2020
UT professor maps climate vulnerability in Austin
Communities within Austin are disproportionately affected by climate change based on their social vulnerability. Social vulnerability refers to a community’s sensitivity to natural hazards and community members’ capacity to rebound from natural disasters. In a study by Patrick Bixler with…
Austin • By Jessi Devenyns • Feb 12, 2020
East Austin 2K-acre PUD gets unanimous seal of approval from Environmental Commission
The future of a decades-old sand and gravel mine just east of the Austin city limits on Harold Green Road is now clearer with the latest set of plans developers presented to the Environmental Commission on Jan. 15. Known as…
